Blog Posts tagged with european antiques

The end of World War I and the dawn of the 1920s ushered in an era of women’s liberation that forever changed the course of history. Women first began to enter the spheres of commerce, fashion and entertainment, freeing themselves from the confines of traditional submissive roles in all facets of society. This optimism was felt especially in Paris, and all branches of the arts reflected this new-found enthusiasm.
It was within this context that the great Parisian artist, Jean-Gabriel Domergue, would redefine feminine beauty. First known for his impeccable landscapes, the artist would...

Handcrafted artisan rugs are timeless works of art that not only beautify our indoor spaces, but also transmit a long history of art and culture to our homes. To ensure that you’re making the best investment, it’s vital to seek the expertise of established rug dealers who maintain a careful selection of premium rugs from renowned designers and production centers. We offer this assurance of quality and more at Cyrus Artisan Rugs.
The Most Trusted Retailer of Artisan Rugs
For nearly 30 years, Cyrus Artisan Rugs has been a trusted retailer of authentic artisan rugs in Minneapolis and the ...

The Art Market
By: Howard Rehs &amp; Lance Rehs
Part I of the Rockefeller Sale
On May 8th, Christie’s New York (located in Rockefeller Center) held part 1 of their highly anticipated sale of the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. Billed as “the sale of the century,” more than 1,500 lots are to be offered including the 44 star lots from last evening. It probably should be noted that all 44 works carried a guarantee from Christie’s… Christie’s was only able to secure the sale over their rival Sotheby’s by guaranteeing a minimum total of $650M to the Rockefeller esta...

We just released Volume 210 of our Comments on the Art Market. In this issue, we cover the gallery’s hours for the month of June, Stocks, Tales from the Dark Side (there were some good ones this month), Really, and detailed coverage of the recent auctions in New York City: Rockefeller, Impressionist/Modern, Post-War/ Contemporary, 19th Century European and American. I will warn you, it is a long one!
Use the links below to read Comments on the Art Market, Volume 210:
Website: http://rehs.com/newsletterarchives.htm?newsletter_no=223
PDF: http://rehs.com/pdf/Q3drI1IWeTFCfdsxFyG...

In one of America’s most historic and fascinating cities, a delicate balance exists between excess and reverence that has endured for 300 years. It is this dichotomy that is the focus of M.S. Rau Antiques’ latest, and most tempting, exhibition.
In commemoration of New Orleans’ tricentennial, M.S. Rau Antiques presents Vice &amp; Virtue: An Exhibition of Sex, Saints and Sin. Through the careful curation of over 100 works of fine art and rare objects from throughout history, M.S. Rau Antiques weaves a fascinating tale examining the fine line separating the righteous from the scandalous...

The decisions by the Berkshire Museum and La Salle University to sell off most of their major works of art for financial reasons has caused a real uproar. While I am a firm believer that museums should not sell their works to ‘pay the bills’, I do feel that many museums need to ‘clean house’. There are so many wonderful works in museum storage areas that will never see the light of day. So, why not do something so people can see and enjoy them? I would love to know when the last time Auguste Bonheur’s Environs of Fontainebleau: Woodland and Cattle (a 105 x 157 inch painting) was on displa...

Everyone loves a good story. In the realm of fine art and antiques, a good story, or what we call “provenance”, has the power to take a work of art from exceptional to awe-inspiring.
In terms of workmanship, subject matter and sheer size, this incredible micromosaic detailing the Biblical story of Saints Valeria and Martial has it all. Measuring over 10 feet tall, the precision and detail required to execute such a piece is baffling. Combined with the high cost of materials, micromosaics of this immense size and artistry are beyond rare.
When you factor in its provenance of being craft...

Traditional rugs may seem old-fashioned to many, but they are actually some of the best and most beautiful rugs you can buy. Many of them have withstood the test of time—both in terms of design and durability—and are still being used in many modern homes today.
Modern collectors, designers, and decorators actually still turn to these luxury pieces when choosing textiles for living spaces. So when you’re looking for rugs to decorate and transform your modern home with, you don’t necessarily have stick to modern carpets. Here’s how you can make those beautiful traditional rugs work for...

Artisan rugs are decorative or functional pieces that are made using the ancient techniques and traditions of rug weaving that have been passed down from generation to generation. Unlike machine-made rugs, they are painstakingly woven or hand-knotted by skilled artisans from different parts of the world.
Known for their beauty, craftsmanship, and rarity, these high-quality textiles normally cost a fortune but are considered worthy investments due to their exquisite beauty and unmatched durability. When properly cared for, these rugs can definitely stand the test of time.
If ...

M.S. Rau Antiques’ latest exhibition, Aristocracy: Luxury and Leisure in Britain, delves into the aristocratic lifestyle of 19th-century England’s most elite families. While also exploring the history of tea, the centuries-old tradition of the hunting party, and the modern phenomenon of the Great Exhibition, the exhibition also boasts a remarkable dinner spread at the apex of the show. Set with gleaming mother of pearl and silver flatware, golden candelabra and exquisite porcelain, the tablescape offers a momentary glimpse into the long-standing traditions that surround the dinner table.
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It’s often been said that the best gifts come in small packages. The maxim certainly rings true when delving into the world of antique singing bird boxes.
The Magic Within
Masterpieces that literally fit in the palm of your hand, singing bird boxes combine the engineering genius of the watchmaker with the cultivated eye of the jeweler. At once, these miniature marvels appear to be snuffboxes – magnificent objets d’art delectably crafted of luxurious materials such as silver, gold, tortoiseshell or enamel – which is why they are often referred to as “tabatières à oiseau chanteur” (“s...

Brilliant general and legendary conqueror, Napoléon Bonaparte was one of the Western world’s most important leaders, as well as one of its greatest patrons of the arts. Few other leaders in world history have understood the power of the image as deeply as Napoléon, and following his meteoric rise to power, he sought to develop a new iconography that bolstered his image in the eyes of the world. Thus, a new age of decorative and fine arts was born that validated his reign, and from behind this new glittering façade, he attempted to conquer the world. The current exhibition at M.S. Rau Antiq...

The great International Exhibitions of the 19th and early 20th centuries were the means by which the world’s latest artistic, industrial and technological innovations could take center stage. Attracting millions of visitors over the duration, it was these world’s fairs that allowed artisans from every discipline to showcase their absolute best to a global audience that included royalty and the social elite. For a craftsman, their exhibit was a watershed moment with the power to make or break their career. The 1862 International Exhibition had been a long time coming. The exhibition marked...

The mere mention of “Chippendale” invokes thoughts of sophistication and the absolute finest furniture ever made...and rightly so. Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) was legendary for his furniture designs that blended English, Chinese and Gothic motifs to create the distinctly elegant style that bears his name. In fact, the English cabinetmaker is the first to have an entire style named after him and not a monarch.
Born into a family of carpenters, little is known about his early career. What is certain is that Chippendale was primarily a designer. His influential treatise of design, Th...

Coffins, mummies, pyramids and ancient tombs – words that seem more at home in a film script have been recently seen flooding headlines. Archeologists and Egyptologists seem on the brink of a major discovery that would rock both the academic world and popular culture. With stories about cosmic particles and secret chambers in the Great Pyramids to the burial site of one particularly famous ancient Egyptian, Queen Nefertiti, eyes are looking to Egypt for the next big revelation about this fascinating, though mysterious, ancient culture.
In the art and antiques world, these revelations are...

Considered by many to be the father of Impressionism and one of the most respected artists of the 19th century, Camille Pissarro forever changed the course of art history. With an artistic career that spanned over 50 years, the revolutionary patriarch influenced the likes of Monet, Cézanne, Cassatt and van Gogh with the founding ideals of portraying everyday life, always remaining true to the innate beauty of the natural world.
Composed during one of the Impressionist master’s most significant periods, Vachère dans une Clairière is the culmination of everything the artist had tirelessly...

What You Should Know About Light and Antique Carpets
It's a ritual at London's Victoria &amp; Albert Museum. On the hour and half-hour, the Ardabil carpet is lit for a brief 10 minutes, so visitors to the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art can behold its splendor. The enclosed display case and lighting system in Room 42 were specially crafted to showcase the world-famous 16th century Safavid carpet and to preserve its exquisite colors. While few collectors display priceless artifacts on the floor, most do value their&nbsp;antique&nbsp;carpets&nbsp;and want to protect the rich colors and stru...

Josef Hoffmann Carpet at Nazmiyal ---&nbsp;Nazmiyal is pleased to announce the addition of a beautiful&nbsp;Art Deco carpet&nbsp;by Josef Hoffmann&nbsp;to its collection. Hoffmann was a respected&nbsp;European&nbsp;architect and designer during the early 20th century who contributed to a number of aesthetic movements that would shape European design for generations to come.
Born in Moravia, Hoffmann studied at the Higher State Crafts School beginning in 1887, and went on to study at at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, graduating in 1895. Soon after, he became one of the founding members...

Hooked Rugs --&nbsp;American&nbsp;hooked rugs&nbsp;are as quintessentially&nbsp;American&nbsp;as jazz music is. Like the latter, it had a very humble beginning but grew to become a unique American tradition. Dismissed for its rustic and low quality until the early 20th century, handmade hooked rugs are now prized for their delightful folk art quality. Today, a thriving rug making industry had grown around it to meet the demands of a growing number of collectors.
Rug hooking is a rug making technique that involves pulling loops or strips of fabric through a stiff woven base to make a rug...

Bauhaus and its Influence on Scandinavian Design --&nbsp;What comes to your mind when you think ofScandinavian design? If you know anything about it, you&nbsp;would immediately think of furniture, carpets, appliances and home accessories with pure forms and&nbsp;simple, clean lines. Scandinavian design is known for its elegance, minimalism, respect for natural&nbsp;materials, and superb craftsmanship. The key to its global popularity is the fine combination of aesthetics&nbsp;and utility.
Modern Scandinavian design has its roots in traditional crafts, but it owes much to the functionali...

When the Dutch William III and his wife Mary II overthrew King James II in the 1688 Glorious Revolution, their victory signaled not only the end to the tensions that existed between the British Crown and Parliament, but also the beginning of a new era of decorative arts. William’s Protestant beliefs opened the door for Dutch, Flemish and French craftsmen to settle in England. These gifted artisans began to work with local cabinetmakers to incorporate their techniques and decorative forms to create a distinctive style of furniture known as William and Mary.
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Though the reign of ...

Antique Garden of Paradise Persian Carpet&nbsp;—&nbsp;Every Wednesday, The&nbsp;Nazmiyal Collection&nbsp;features one spectacular example of a hand-made vintage or antique rug from its vast catalog. We select each piece based on its aesthetic beauty, conceptual merit, and history. To see how we’d style this week’s selection, check out our&nbsp;Wednesday Wishlist Pinterest board!
This week’s Wednesday Wishlist rug is a beautiful antique Garden of Paradise Persian carpet, featuring a beautifully detailed flora and fauna design. Animals frolic amidst lush trees and flowers on a rich blue f...

Mid-Century Modern Design —&nbsp;When interior designers refer to “Mid Century Modern” design, they are referring to an aesthetic style based around the idea of streamlining everyday life using technology that was immensely popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s in the United States and Europe. After World War II, the industrialized nations of the world believed that the future success of their governments were heavily dependent on their ability to implement and adapt to changing technologies, and began to place a high emphasis on engineering, mechanization, and computer science.
The effects ...

How to Decorate with Antique Rugs
Decorating with Antique Carpets –&nbsp;Adding an&nbsp;antique carpet&nbsp;to an interior space can drastically change the look of a room. While there are many different styles of antique rugs and vintage carpets to choose from, there are some tried-and-true rules to follow when it comes to choosing the size and placement of your rug. Below are Nazmiyal Collection’s tips for choosing the right rug for your space.
1. To determine what size rug to buy, measure your room’s width and length, and then subtract 2 to 3 feet from each dimension. Using a ru...